A dog on a scooter with Holi powder on its forehead shows how much Indians love their pets

Kinew won’t budge on opposition to criminalizing residential school denialism

Premier Wab Kinew stood by his opposition to the proposed criminalization of residential school denialism Wednesday, after some First Nations leaders criticized his earlier comments and asked him to reconsider.

Kinew said he doesn’t think Canada should make residential school denialism a crime, nor does he think it’s feasible to do, and he’d prefer to see it combated with education.

“When somebody has a question or wants to make a statement from a place of ignorance, the response isn’t to try to criminalize,” he told reporters.

“The response should be to try to heal whatever is going on with them that would cause them to say something hurtful, to try and educate whatever they lack in terms of knowledge about the true history of our country, and ultimately to find a way for us to all live together.”

Gillingham vows drug crackdowns would continue on his watch

Scott Gillingham would “immediately” provide funding to extend an initiative that cracks down on open drug use and connects vulnerable people to addictions and homelessness supports, if he’s re-elected mayor.

That partnership between Winnipeg Police Service and outreach organizations began Aug. 7 and is currently set to wrap up Oct. 31.

Gillingham said he would provide $100,000 to Ka Ni Kanichihk, which led weekly outreach walks and worked with police to support the effort, since it needs more funding to extend the program.

That should cover another six months of costs and provide time for the organization to seek longer term funding, the incumbent mayoral candidate said.

MPI leadership not fooling anyone by forcing PUB’s hand

It is not a question you will hear raised at Public Utilities Board hearings into Autopac rates, but you can bet it’s the one on most people’s minds.

When will the NDP government step in and repair leadership at Manitoba Public Insurance? For the third year in a row, MPI has limped into PUB hearings like a badly damaged vehicle that should have been written off years ago.

This week, the Crown corporation’s chief actuary admitted the 2.38-per-cent increase requested for the 2027-28 fiscal year was too low, in part because of the impact of last summer’s multiple hailstorms and the premiums MPI pays for re-insurance that protects the public insurer from surges in claims costs.

Chief actuary Cara Low said the rate application was not updated because of “uncertainty.” That is sort of like a firefighter complaining about not being able to do the job because there was too much smoke and flame.

Alberta’s immigrants feeling xenophobic chill from some questions in Monday’s referendum

EDMONTON — When Gurnam Singh Dodd came to Canada in 1976, he landed first in southern Ontario, where his brother lived. At the time, the province was mired in the era of stagflation, and it was difficult to find work; but he had some friends living in Edmonton, and asked for their advice.

“Come to Alberta,” they told him. It was a land of opportunity. The economy was booming, bolstered by soaring oil and gas prices; Dodd could surely find multiple jobs within days. With that, the young Sikh newcomer packed up and headed west, looking to put down roots on the edge of the Canadian Prairies.

Nearly 50 years later, that proved to be a wise decision. Dodd worked hard to succeed in his new home, moving up from his first minimum-wage jobs to a successful career with Edmonton Transit, and then as a driver’s licence examiner. He raised a thriving family, gave back to his community and became, in all ways, a very proud Albertan.

Around the turn of the millennium, eager to do his part in the province’s public life, he joined what was then Alberta’s Progressive Conservative party, under the leadership of premier Ralph Klein. (Klein’s father, Dodd says proudly, was a friend, and helped get him into politics.)

White-supremacist highway sign casts pall on Steinbach city council campaign

The RCMP is investigating a white-nationalist sign near Steinbach with racist messaging and alleged links to a known Canadian far-right group.

Main Street Project's clothes closet offers choice, dignity

Choosing what to wear is a simple part of everyday life, but for people with no home and no money, making that decision can be out of reach.

A new clothing store run by Winnipeg’s Main Street Project, a nonprofit that serves the homeless populations, aims to restore that choice while honouring the memory of a volunteer who helped others feel confident and valued.

Ash’s Closet, which opened on Thursday, allows people to browse through racks of free clothing that reflect their personal tastes.

“It gives people choice and dignity, and that’s a key part of what we do,” said executive director Jamil Mahmood. “When you’re homeless, that choice gets taken away from you. You don’t know where you’re going to eat, where you’re going to sleep, where you’re going to shower, and where you’re getting your clothes from.”